Galway & Cliffs of Moher, ireland
Attractions Guide

Introduction

Rather than exploring Galway and the Cliffs of Moher on your own, the cheapest and most efficient option is to take an inexpensive day-trip tour from Dublin.

It's possible to reach most of these attractions via car or bus, with the exceptions being the Aillwee Cave and Poulnabrone Dolmen tomb (of The Burren) and the Kilkee Cliffs being only accessible by car. Another option is to reach Galway via train or bus and take an inexpensive tour to the Cliffs of Moher from Galway, which typically includes a majority of these sights including the Burren.

Galway, Ireland

Galway is a picturesque city in Western Ireland that you must walk around to truly enjoy. A highly recommended walking route to explore Galway begins in the city's Eyre Square. From here you can walk along the city's scenic Latin Quarter which begins just southwest from Eyre Square at William Street. William Street becomes the popular Quay Street with many colorful quaint buildings lining the streets the entire way.

Once you reach the River Corrib from Quay Street you can walk along it, appreciating the beautiful lush green scenery along the way. This path will lead you to the lovely Salmon Weir Bridge, which you can cross to see the impressive Galway Cathedral, which features a marvelous interior.

The total length of this waling route starting from Eyre Square to Quay Street then following along the River Corrib is only about a 1.3 mile (2.1 km) walk total, arriving back at Eyre Square. This walking route is kind of a short self-tour will and allows you to see many of Galway's most beautiful parts.

Dungaire Castle

After enjoying Galway you can drive south to Kinvarra, where you can admire the seaside Dunguaire Castle, a small medieval tower house which looks picturesque set amongst the coastline.

If travelling via train and bus, you can reach this castle by taking the bus from Galway to the lovely town of Kinvarra. From this town you can take a scenic walk of about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) round-trip to see the castle. Many tours to the Cliffs of Moher also stop at this idyllic castle.

The Burren (Car or Tour Only)

After visiting the Dungaire Castle you can drive through the scenic rocky Burren region. Consider stopping for a quick tour through the striking illuminated Aillwee Cave if you like, then head to the nearby Poulnabrone Dolmen, an impressive neolithic rock tomb built over 5,000 years ago. This tomb is set amongst a beautiful wild landscape and is quite photogenic.

Cliffs of Moher

After enjoyin Galway or The Burren you should head to the iconic Cliffs of Moher, which can be reached via bus from Galway or easily by car / tour. These breathtaking ocean cliffs are one of Ireland's most popular tourist spots, featuring trails along the edges of these lush steep cliffs from which you can enjoy gorgeous views above the rugged coastline. One of the most popular spots along the cliffs is the castle-like O'Brien's Tower, which looks stunning set amongst the coastline.

Hiking along the Cliffs

You can walk along the southern cliffs for approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) from the Visitor's Center, ending at another historical tower with a short walk to the village of Kilconnell. O'Brien's Tower is located near the Visitor's Centre, with the northern trail stretching beyond the tower along the cliffs for approximately 3.7 miles (6 km), concluding near the town of Doolin.

There's also the possibility of taking the shuttle bus from Doolin (at the northern end of the cliffs) or Kilconnell (at the southern end of the cliffs) back to the visitor's centre (near the center of the cliffs), which runs approximately every 1.5 hours. If you'd like to walk along the entire stretch of the Cliffs of Moher, you should start in Doolin, walking south approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) one-way along the cliffs before reaching the bus station in Kilconnell.

Kilkee Cliffs (Car Only)

If you'd like to see more stunning cliffs in the area you can drive further south along the coast to the lesser-known Kilkee Cliffs, which show a lot more variance in coastal geological formations such as sea caves, an arch, and rocky islands.